FATIMA MERNISSI LEERSTOEL

About the Fatima Mernissi Chair

Fatima Mernissi (27/09/1940 - 30/11/2015) was a prominent Moroccan sociologist who greatly impacted the development of feminism in the muslim community. Her book Beyond the Veil: Male-Female Dynamics in a Muslim Society established her as the "Simone De Beauvoir of Maghreb" and she was ranked by the Guardian ranking as one of the hundred most influential Arabic women. Her work explores the relationship between power, gender and islam and connects the West and the Arabic world. 

Inspired by this grande dame, the Fatima Mernissi Chair creates spaces for open dialogue between public figures, civil society, artists, activists, youth, etc. It builds on the cosmopolitan surroundings of Brussels and critical thinking tradition at the VUB, to incite interdisciplinary research and organize lectures and workshops for the broader public on power, gender and islam. 

The Fatima Mernissi Chair is an initiative by Rhea and collaborates with many different people and organisations to achieve its' goals.

Vision & Mission 

The Fatima Mernissi Chair has an academic and a society-oriented pillar. 

Within the academic pillar, scientific research is set up with the following focal points:

• The so-called ‘Muslim question’, in particular the framing of power, gender and Islam in current scientific and societal debates. Special attention will be paid to innovative and critical voices.

• Identity and perception of identity among Muslim populations in Europe, with a particular focus on young people. Here we focus on new ideas and practices growing within Muslim populations themselves. These include identity formation and the interpretation of ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’, of ‘feminism’ and ‘Islam’.

• Possibilities and limitations of the current political structures and cultures of contemporary liberal democracies in the light of the integration of Islam in Europe

• Brussels and its various dynamics and communities.

The second, society-oriented pillar involves a dialogue between science and society (opinion makers, civil society organisations, artists, activists and stakeholders of all kinds) on the broad theme of power, gender and Islam.

Within academia, many researchers and thinkers are already working on these themes, critically interpreting Islam and examining the role of gender, power and religion in societal problems. However, the knowledge produced here is not always accessible to a wide audience. Nor should the research that will be launched in the context of the chair remain on the VUB campus and be able to play an important role in promoting living together in a city like Brussels. Moreover, various initiatives are also already being developed in civil society to critically rethink Islam and look for ways to shape coexistence in a positive way. By creating a platform for social debate, we believe VUB can make an important and constructive contribution in a mutual exchange of knowledge.